Christmas at Ellie's 2007

Snowman Snugglin'

Blue Jays

Shirley turned us on to these bird seed cakes that we hang on a pole outside our kitchen window. Sam likes to watch the birds, and it is a nice thing to do in the winter. I'm surprised to see the different COLORFUL variety of birds appear; birds i normally do not see otherwise. Anyhow, this morning, the bird of 'choice' was the Blue Jay. I've seen these birds dive bomb cats in Virginia... they can be pretty aggressive. That said, at one point, FOUR of them were all fighting over the seed cake. I've tried to capture this a little in photos...

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown

I'm very good at finding Charlie Brown Christmas trees. In fact, i seek them out. I figure they already chop these poor scraggly evergreens down, i might as well give them some lovin'. We've grown quite fond of a very cool, very CHEAP, Christmas tree place just entering Addison, called Towner Tree Farms. For the past three years, we've found our tree there, and each time, it's cost us $6.99. I mean, c'mon. Why pay $40+ for a tree that you are just going to put out on your curb in one month?! Well, that's my opinion.

You might be wondering how Sam is with the tree. Or rather, the "tinkering with" and "curiosity for" the tree. Answer is, he's being very good. He is definitely intrigued and interested, but i've explained to him to be gentle and to just LOOK. So far, so good. Frankly, that's his demeanor, and we're lucky. I'm thankful. Even Beegs doesn't give a hoot about it, and Zap doesn't come downstairs, so... we're all set!

Hope everyone is all ready for Christmas, which is in a little over 10 days. I still have cookies to bake and a couple mailings to get out, but otherwise, i'm as ready as i ever am. I take a very laid back approach to this holiday, as in, i don't go nutzoid. Probably cuz i've never had the funds to do so. ;-)

Sunday Funnies

"Nothin'."

Photo Du Jour

Sparkle 2007

Well, Sparkle Christmas in downtown Corning was early this year, on the first, last Saturday. And it was ding-dang COLD out. Sheesh. Of course Sam refuses, normally, to wear mittens, so i didn't even bother, but by the end of 2 blocks (we walked down; forget the hassle of parking!), he was wimpering with red hands. Thus, the "lobster claw" look he fashioned nicely with Mommy's mittens. We peeked into Pookies shortly and found some mittens he kept on (they didn't work so great anyhow).

(Here's a good spot to complain about the stroller you see Sam in. I JUST bought it at Target. It's supposd to be a "super deluxe" compact stroller. Some of the comforts of the big strollers with the ease and convenience of the little umbrella strollers. This thing is a JOKE! We had to literally wedge Sam into it (the tray/cup holder does not swing open!) and had the hardest time getting him out to see Santa. Knowing full well that he was WAY TOO BIG for this thing, Ron tried to close the awning and had to smoosh Sam's head underneathe, which really gave us a good laugh. What the HECK! I've read the box and specs, and no where does it give a size limit, like "if your two year old is HUGE, don't buy this." That would have been helpful. Oh well.)

I have to say, Sparkle just doesn't seem to have the 'sparkle' that its had in the past. I remember it being much more crowded, not only with people walking the streets, but with vendors and activities. A year or so before we worked it with the hot dog truck, i recall it being downright CROWDED, and i would run into a few folks i knew. The past few years - not so much. I don't know - maybe its me. You tell me.

I was excited to see the line was short for Santa. We've been introducing Sam to Santa and His World. He still doesn't fully get it, of course; soon he'll link gifts and Christmas with Bearded Old Guy. Outside the door, waiting our turn, he'd point and say "Dan-ta" with a smile of wonder. But once inside.......

Tears.

That's fine with me. That's Sam figuring stuff out. Mom says that i never really warmed up to Santa at any point. I wonder what Sam would do if Ron dressed up like him? Would he get it then, or would he still be scared? Hmmm...

You People!

While the voting was very close, it seems as though many of you think i should hold off on cutting those precious golden locks on Sammy's head til a later date. I'm okay with this. So through the power of internet voting (!), I've postponed quoif-cutting for now. I think Ron voted more than once though.... :-)

A Few Changes to the Blog

I thought it was time for a slight "makeover" to the blog. I tried to change it to a holiday theme, but in changing the HTML code, something didn't translate and kind of messed it up. While freaking out, thinking I had lost the entire blog in 11 seconds, i decided to leave it alone, for the most part. I hope you like the new color scheme. I've also added a couple new fun elements, that may or may not be present all the time. There is a POLL on the right, concerning Sam's pending haircut. Please vote! Ha. I've also included a highlighted "Photo Du Jour" at the bottom of the page; Tanner and Sam are breaking it in.

Spoon-Lickin' Good

Sam helps me with the beginning bakings of the Christmas Cookie Stash!

You Guys are Just WRONG!

The Big Number Two!

Samson Vonnegut turns TWO today!
Since the Daycare Center was closed on Monday for Staff Development, we were able to swap days and get Sam in on his birthday, which i was really psyched about 'cuz this was going to be my first "Mommy Bakes for the Class" moment! I will never outdo my cousin with her

birthday cake creations (think Spiderman, a snake and a MEGAPHONE! - all handsculpted), but I can be a mean Cookie Baker. So i decided on my all-time fave, and a loved classic, The Chocolate Chip. Ron made them however (i was swamped at work!), and in true Ron fashion, he tweaked the recipe. He added half a jar of Wegmans Mint Chocolate Fudge dessert topping. Wow-WEE! Yum-MEE!

At 2:30, Shirley and i arrived to the kids just wrapping up naptime (there was even a wee one still napping in the corner). Pretty soon thereafter, i
passed out a cookie for each child, which i had decorated the night before with kid-friendly and recognizable shapes: a balloon, a bicycle, a sun, a moon, a butterfly - that sorta thing. I squatted next to Sam, pulled two candles from my pocket and a lighter and the class began to sing. He slowly looked up, in almost a dazed way, and then began to cry. I don't think he knew what to make of the attention. I patted his back and soon it was time for him to blow out his candles (I helped a little). Ron had made the cookies GIGUNDO (at least from a 2 yr old's perspective), and most of them did not finish even a half. I look over, and there is Sam with nothing but crumbs in front of him! Ha! Daddy's lil boy.

Then the kids wanted to play outside. Good GOD, was it cold out, but you would never know by the kids excitement and energy. Sam had a good time running with his little plastic grocery cart, and playing follow the leader on the playground's wood border. After about 20 min, the kids came in and played around the room, listened to story time, and Ron enjoyed a 'taco' for a snack.

At 4, the Center was hosting a saxophone quartet from Ithaca College. Each class had a designated time to go and listen. They even wheeled the baby's in cribs to listen, which i thought was way cool! Sam's class really enjoyed it. Sam was a little antsy, and i wondered if it was because Mommy and Daddy were there (showing off). He clapped and danced - it was a really nice time.

If you would like to reminisce with us a little, travel back one or two years...

"Pop pop"

Another introduction to blatant sugar source: The Lollipop. I have to be very calculative as to WHEN i give him a "pop pop." Right before dinner is not really a good time, i learned.

Here's a good place to update everyone (mostly me, for record-keeping purposes!) on the latest words and phrases from Sam:

Words: puppy, apple, juice ('joo'), happy, WHOA!, ball, choo-choo, beep beep (anything related to a car), meow ('Nyow'), book, hoo-hoo (when seeing an owl), moon ('moo'), work (work, minus the "k" sound, in response to "Where's Daddy?"), night-night ("Do you know what time it is, Sam?"), shhh, blue ('boo'), pee-pee, poo-poo (pointing to toilet and/or butt), Please ('peas'), Thank you ('den doo')...

Phrases:
"All RIGHT, Mommy/Daddy/Puppy!" - used most often when I finally shoot a used tissue into the wastebasket after missing 100x, or when Beegsley catches a dog biscuit tossed to him. Also popular when Ron comes out of the shower (haha!)

"How I wah" - sung, the first portion of "How i wonder what you are." when anything about a STAR is said. This one really surprised me the other day!

........ ah, within no time, we'll be having a conversation. I REALLY look forward to jotting down the crazy stuff he's sure to say!

Sammy sees a second Halloween- and likes it!

Thanks, Gramma!

For the wicked cool Pumpkin Shirt!!!

Treat or Treat!

Wegmans once again put on a "Fall Harvest Party." It was a really good turn-out. There was a great big line to get our picture taken (with a backdrop I spent over an hour creating this afternoon). Sam got many ooh and aahs, from parents and kids alike, for being the most adorable Winnie the Pooh EVER!!! Ron and i had picked up a green hairy monster costume from the Sal Val, but it turned out to be too small (and had velcro in the FRONT, which Sam could not ignore). Since Sam has no real exposure (yet!) to candy, he had no idea what it was all about when we went around to the different games being played around the store (each department had a game). I picked out a Tootsie Roll at the first game, just to show him, and then he picked a Tootsie Roll at every game afterward! I don't think he even knows its candy! Now i can imagine his reaction if the buckets were filled with GOLDFISH CRACKERS! Haha. We had such a good time!

This is Sam's 'posed smile' when i tell him to smile!